Extended Interface for Automatic Print Setting Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing systems require user intervention to change private print settings in the DEVMODE structure, which is inefficient and limits automation in processes like printing spreadsheets or direct mail, and also face challenges with printer driver installation and compatibility across different spooling types and environments.
Innovation Solution
An extended interface is introduced that allows direct communication between applications and printer drivers, enabling the storage and modification of print settings outside the DEVMODE structure, and a management application manages these settings to facilitate automatic printing processes without user intervention, supporting various spooling types and environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If user intervention is required to change print settings in the DEVMODE structure, then print settings can be accurately controlled, but printing efficiency decreases and automation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing print settings to be pre-configured and stored in the DEVMODE structure before the actual printing operation. The printer driver retrieves and applies these pre-set parameters automatically during printing, eliminating the need for real-time user intervention and thereby improving printing efficiency while maintaining accurate control over print settings.
2Extent of automation
If an extended interface is introduced for direct communication between applications and printer drivers, then automation capability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the extended interface to handle multiple functions within a unified framework. The interface enables automated transmission of various print parameters (such as paper size, resolution, color settings) between applications and printer drivers through a single standardized mechanism, thereby improving automation capability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If print settings are stored outside the DEVMODE structure, then flexibility and controllability improve, but compatibility challenges arise across different spooling types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary approach by introducing a standardized interface layer between the extended print setting storage mechanism and the various spooling systems. This intermediary translates and adapts the stored print parameters into formats compatible with different spooling types (such as GDI, UWP, and cloud printing), thereby maintaining print setting flexibility while ensuring reliable compatibility across diverse printing environments.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a print data generation part that receives, via an operating system, a print execution instruction including a file and a first print setting from the application, and generates print data; an application management part that sends a printing instruction to the application; an extended interface part other than an interface part defined by the operating system; and a print setting storing part that stores a second print setting that is input from the application management part via the extended interface part. The print data generation part changes a print setting to be used to generate the print data from the first print setting to the second print setting.